Michael Clarke

[Adelaide Hawk]

I recall Chappell taking over from Lawry in the final Test of the 1970-71 Ashes series, and he wasn't the popular choice of everyone on the board. He lost that Test but went on to become arguably Australia's best Test skipper. Added to this, his batting average went from 37 as a player to 50 while he was captain. He responded to the responsibility as captain, maybe Clarke will as well. Anyone heard the term, "benefit of the doubt"?

Better than Benaud in your view Hawk?

regards,

REB

Never saw Benaud so it's hard to say. Best two captains I've seen are Chappell and Taylor. They both had the uncanny knack up making something happen. i.e. bringing on part timers and grabbing a wicket that turned a Test. They were pro-active, Ricky tends to be a little re-active.

[purch]

F*** Me!!! Since when has been popular in tabloid newspaper poll in Sydney a pre-requisite or at best even a consideration when choosing who our next test captain should be??

I remember a public poll back in the early-mid 80's, after the demise of crying Kim. Not sure whether it was a Sydney tabloid, but it was between AB and Hooksey. AB won the poll and became Captain IIRC..

[Rik E Boy]

I recall Chappell taking over from Lawry in the final Test of the 1970-71 Ashes series, and he wasn't the popular choice of everyone on the board. He lost that Test but went on to become arguably Australia's best Test skipper. Added to this, his batting average went from 37 as a player to 50 while he was captain. He responded to the responsibility as captain, maybe Clarke will as well. Anyone heard the term, "benefit of the doubt"?

Better than Benaud in your view Hawk?

regards,

REB

Never saw Benaud so it's hard to say. Best two captains I've seen are Chappell and Taylor. They both had the uncanny knack up making something happen. i.e. bringing on part timers and grabbing a wicket that turned a Test. They were pro-active, Ricky tends to be a little re-active.

I never saw Benaud either but I have read about some his innovative captaincy in England in 1960 and he seemed to have some excellent ideas when I saw him in 'Calypso Summer' which was screened recently. I'd vote for Chappelli and Tubbs too I reckon.

regards,

REB

[Adelaide Hawk]

I never saw Benaud either but I have read about some his innovative captaincy in England in 1960 and he seemed to have some excellent ideas when I saw him in 'Calypso Summer' which was screened recently. I'd vote for Chappelli and Tubbs too I reckon.

Yes, apparently he was the first captain to dare to bowl leg spin around the wicket, pitching the ball into the bowlers' footmarks and he swung the 4th Test at Old Trafford. If you ever see footage of this, look for Bob Simpson's catching in slip, absolutely brilliant.

[magpie in the 80's]

Bob Simpson slips catch off Richie Benaud. England vs. Australia, Fourth test at the Old Trafford in 1961

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuDuBAKp1xQ

[Adelaide Hawk]

Bob Simpson slips catch off Richie Benaud. England vs. Australia, Fourth test at the Old Trafford in 1961

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuDuBAKp1xQ

Yep, that's the one. Having to dive to the left, or wicketkeeper side is the most difficult catch to take, and Simpson made it look easy. I also remember one where the ball was past him, and he dived back and across to snare it. Australia's had some great slippers over the years but Simpson gets my vote as the best I've seen.

[am Bays]

F*** Me!!! Since when has been popular in tabloid newspaper poll in Sydney a pre-requisite or at best even a consideration when choosing who our next test captain should be??

I remember a public poll back in the early-mid 80's, after the demise of crying Kim. Not sure whether it was a Sydney tabloid, but it was between AB and Hooksey. AB won the poll and became Captain IIRC..

Quietly confident that blokes of the ilk of Phil Ridings, Bob Parish, Malcolm Grey, Alan Crompton, Lawrie Sawle, Greg Chappell et al wouldn't have even considered that when determining the 38th test captain of Australia

[whufc]

Another impressive knock from the CAPTAIN, out soft as butter again and to think people truly believe he stands up when we need him.

He is currently a joke a does not deserve to be in the side.

The positive is he may make history as the first guy to debut as captain only to be dropped in his next test.

[Pup]

Another impressive knock from the CAPTAIN, out soft as butter again and to think people truly believe he stands up when we need him.

He is currently a joke a does not deserve to be in the side.

The positive is he may make history as the first guy to debut as captain only to be dropped in his next test.

Nice to see that you couldn't reply to this thread before he batted. And Michael Clarke is the front runner?

[whufc]

Another impressive knock from the CAPTAIN, out soft as butter again and to think people truly believe he stands up when we need him.

He is currently a joke a does not deserve to be in the side.

The positive is he may make history as the first guy to debut as captain only to be dropped in his next test.

Nice to see that you couldn't reply to this thread before he batted. And Michael Clarke is the front runner?

What wasnt the 5 days i have been banging on about him to be dropped not enough notice for you.

Your blind defending of Clarke is laughable. I suppose he got out to a corker today and was just really unlucky.

Any pitch where there is any kind of movement will find Clarke and his shite technique out everytime.

Clarke= Pea Hearted Front Runner

[Rik E Boy]

Clarke is really on the nose at the moment. It's a big Pickle for the selectors with the Captain and the Vice Captain not firing. We needed both to fire at a time when Katich got hurt and there are youngsters galore in the team.

regards,

REB

[Bulls forever]

Clarke is really on the nose at the moment. It's a big Pickle for the selectors with the Captain and the Vice Captain not firing. We needed both to fire at a time when Katich got hurt and there are youngsters galore in the team.

regards,

REB

Good post REB, I think the real problem is that there is no one is Shield Cricket that is dominating and saying, pick me. I remember back to Lehmann, Mark Waugh, Siddons and the mountain of runs they had to make to even be talked about. Gee I wish some of them were around now.

[whufc]

one thing i must say positive about Clarke is..........................................................

i like some of his captaincy today, he wasnt afraid to make changes bowling Hussey, having others come around the wicket etc etc. He didnt let things drift for to long and was let down a fair bit by some poor bowling at times.

[whufc]

Interestingly James Sutherland is very unhappy with Michael Clarke and Philip Hughes for attending corporate functions on the morning before test matches.

They were both guests at a Shane Warne function on boxing day morning before the side was bowled out for stuff all.

Michael Clarke was also attending functions on the first morning of the sydney test match despite having to juggle test match captaincy for the first time.

This is how it was reported on foxsports news.

Is there anything to make of this?

[dedja]

If JS was unhappy why doesn't he stop the players from doing it ... it's not as if he's their employer or anything FFS.

And what's the freaking coach doing about it?

[Dogmatic]

Interestingly James Sutherland is very unhappy with Michael Clarke and Philip Hughes for attending corporate functions on the morning before test matches.

They were both guests at a Shane Warne function on boxing day morning before the side was bowled out for stuff all.

Michael Clarke was also attending functions on the first morning of the sydney test match despite having to juggle test match captaincy for the first time.

This is how it was reported on foxsports news.

Is there anything to make of this?

Was unhappy with him and then they make him captain.

[Pup]

Interestingly James Sutherland is very unhappy with Michael Clarke and Philip Hughes for attending corporate functions on the morning before test matches.

They were both guests at a Shane Warne function on boxing day morning before the side was bowled out for stuff all.

Michael Clarke was also attending functions on the first morning of the sydney test match despite having to juggle test match captaincy for the first time.

This is how it was reported on foxsports news.

Is there anything to make of this?

I don't have a problem with that Whufc. Shouldn't be attending functions on the morning of Boxing Day when it is 1-1 in an Ashes series IMO. Should be preparing.

Wouldn't blame his poor form on that though.

[brod]

Not even a year...and isnt it a different Pup and perception that confronts us in 2012.

I still think that one of the most impressive things he has done is to say NO to the IPL, saying he wants to be ready to play TEST cricket. If only he can push this to some of our younger (injury prone) players

[The Dark Knight]

Having been away over the past two weeks and having no access to the forum (Not paying for international roaming) and having no decent sport news I had no idea of what was happing in the cricket. Luckily Sky sports news took about 30 seconds to stop talking about how bloody great England are and had the report on Australia smashing India in Sydney. I saw it and went absolutely bananas! Then I heard/saw that Clarke had hit 325!!!! I almost fell off the bed, I never would of thought Clarke would be the next aussie to hit 300, my pick would be Hussey given his great patience and mental toughness but good on Pup, fantastic effort must have been great to watch, my brother said he never looked like getting out. Not just from that innings, I didn't see any of it, I think he's looked a better batsman since becoming Captain.